As City News reported at the time, the signs, which called Chaffee a carpetbagger, had been purchased by local businessman and activist Tony Bushala. He said he immediately recognized Chaffee as the culprit when he saw surveillance video of one of the sign thefts outside his office. The case was handed over from Fullerton PD to the District Attorney’s Office to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, given Bushala’s complaints about a cozy relationship between city leaders and the Fullerton Police Department.

Shortly after the incident, a City Council Candidate in the Orange County city of Buena Park was also accused of lifting signs that were critical of her.

Paulette Chaffee is the wife of Fullerton Mayor and Orange County Supervisor-Elect Doug Chaffee.